Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons participating in the graduate placement and short-term work schemes which were announced in the supplementary budget on 7 April 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40949/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will extend the short-time working training programme to support more workers in vulnerable employment; her views on whether earlier access for unemployed persons to education and training will prevent the flow of persons into long-term unemployment and this programme needs to rolled out on a larger basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40769/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos.76 and 79 together.

The Work Placement Programme is a labour market activation initiative that provides 2,000 six-month work experience places to individuals who are unemployed, including graduates. The programme is broken down into Stream 1, which is for graduates and Stream 2, which is for other individuals. Participants on the scheme will retain their social welfare entitlements.

FÁS are managing the programme and to date a total of 72 graduates from Stream 1 have been placed in positions with companies and 30 individuals in Stream 2 have also been placed, this brings the total of participants to 102.

In relation to expressions of interest, to date, 1,121 graduates from Stream 1 have met the eligibility criteria while 898 individuals from Stream 2 have also met the eligibility criteria, totalling 2,019 individuals. To date there are currently 527 vacancies to be filled.

FÁS are also managing the short-time working training programme, which provides training to 277 people on systematic short time for the days they are not working. The training will last for a year and individuals will retain their social welfare entitlements while on the programme. FÁS have developed a specific curriculum for this programme and its participants and are currently identifying appropriate companies and their employees to participate in the programme. Decisions regarding the possible expansion of the programme will be made once it has commenced and it can be evaluated.